Safe to say the Thunder passed its first test of the playoffs.
Oklahoma City mauled Memphis 131-80 Sunday afternoon at Paycom Center to take a 1-0 lead in the Western Conference first-round series.
Here’s how the Thunder graded out in Game 1:
Advertisement
Advertisement
More: How did OKC Thunder shut down Ja Morant, Zach Edey and Memphis Grizzlies in NBA Playoffs?
Zach Edey looked … uncomfortable. That’s perhaps the gentlest way to put it.
What worked against Indiana and Michigan State is less effective against Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein and the Thunder. Granted, Edey had a fine rookie season — a likely All-Rookie first-teamer — but playoff basketball is a different beast as Edey and the Grizz were reminded Sunday.
Edey is 7-foot-4, but he negates his size advantage when he brings the ball down. The Thunder stripped him multiple times. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Holmgren took turns stuffing Edey in the first quarter.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Edey played just 20 minutes — the fewest of any Grizzlies starter.
Memphis coach Tuomas Iisalo can’t outright bench Edey, but the results from the rookie weren’t good Sunday. In Edey’s defense, his teammates were no better.
Sometimes Mark Daigneault likes to zag with his lineups, but he deployed the double-big unit of Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein to start against Edey and Jaren Jackson Jr.
– Joe Mussatto
A noon tip-off on a rain-soaked Easter didn’t dampen the atmosphere at Paycom Center.
The arena wasn’t just full — we knew it’d be — it was full well before tip-off. Fans put on their free T-shirts, even if they had to be shamed into doing so.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Was it the loudest Thunder playoff game? No. Then again, I didn’t have my decibel meter handy. It was loud given the circumstances, though. It’s hard to stay engaged amid a 50-point blowout.
– Joe Mussatto
Chet Holmgren’s game-to-game performance has fluctuated since his February return from injury. Some nights he looks like classic Chet. Other nights he looks like a guy recovering from a fracture in his hip.
Sunday afternoon, he looked like the former.
Holmgren had 19 points, 10 rebounds, two assists and two blocks. Those numbers don’t account for everything he deterred at the rim.
Advertisement
Advertisement
– Joe Mussatto
More: OKC Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander named finalist for 2024-25 NBA MVP
He took zero shots in 12 minutes and might deserve an “A.”
That’s how impactful Caruso is. He was a plus-30, by the way, but who wasn’t?
Caruso had four assists and three rebounds. He was a menace per usual on the defensive end. His versatility on that end of the floor is what makes him special. When the Thunder went small, Caruso spent time defending Jaren Jackson Jr. Caruso can guard one through four.
– Joe Mussatto
Memphis’ Ja Morant (12) looks to get by Oklahoma City’s Isaiah Joe (11) during Game 1 of the NBA playoff series between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Memphis Grizzlies at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City , Sunday, April, 20, 2025.
Memphis superstar Ja Morant had his moments, scoring 17 points and dishing out four assists. But OKC made his moments tough; he needed 17 shots to get his points, making just six baskets and going 1 of 6 from behind the arc.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Morant, though, only had one turnover. He can be turnover-prone — he averaged 3.6 turnovers in the first seven games he played this month, for instance — and considering how good the Thunder is at turning over opponents, it would be even more disruptive to the Grizzlies if it forces Morant into more turnovers.
– Jenni Carlson
More: NBA playoff opener felt like yesteryear, but OKC Thunder never destroyed teams like this
All this guy does is come off the bench and make big plays.
After spending the entire first quarter on the bench — about 30 minutes of actual time, as Thunder coach Mark Daigneault pointed out — Wiggins started the second quarter and hit a 3 only 15 seconds in. A few minutes later, he hit 3s on back-to-back possessions. He helped key a 23-2 Thunder run at the start of the quarter that essentially put away the game.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Wiggins finished with a game-high 21 points.
– Jenni Carlson
Oklahoma City’s Isaiah Hartenstein and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) force a tie ball with Memphis’ Zach Edey (14) during Game 1 of the NBA playoff series between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Memphis Grizzlies at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City , Sunday, April, 20, 2025.
Jaren Jackson Jr. and Zach Edey are big loads down low for the Grizzlies, but neither of them made much of a dent in the Thunder on Sunday.
They went a combined 4 of 14 in the paint, with Edey only managing five shots. They shot just one free throw between them, too, meaning the Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein and Co. did a masterful job of guarding without fouling.
While Morant is the biggest concern for the Thunder defense, OKC will make quick work of Memphis if it holds Jackson and Edey to four points apiece.
Advertisement
Advertisement
– Jenni Carlson
More: OKC Thunder demolishes Ja Morant, Grizzlies in record NBA playoff rout | 5 takeaways
Any chance we could start a petition to have Big Rob sing the national anthem for every playoff game?
The motivational speaker and pastor is a regular singing “The Star-Spangled Banner” before Thunder games, but Sunday was a reminder of how great he is. He doesn’t go too slow or try to do too much, just letting his rich baritone do its job. And what a job it does.
Bravo, Big Rob.
– Jenni Carlson
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC Thunder grades vs Memphis Grizzlies in Game 1 of NBA Playoffs
